Collapsible display container



y 1937- c. J. BACON 2,080,105

COLLAPS IBLE DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed April 21, 1936 INVENTOR Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to display containers which are intended to be generally used for the purpose of displaying various articles of merchandise, such as groceries, package goods and the like.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a display container which may be readily collapsed and folded flat when not in use so as to facilitate the shipping and storage thereof, and which may be easily and quickly set up by the user when needed. Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible display container which is of unitary construction, complete in itself, and which does not require the assembly of several members to be set up in operative condition. A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible cardboard display container, which when set up for use is rendered very rigid and is securely held against accidental folding without the aid of auxiliary bracing and holding means. A still further object of the present invention is to provide novel means for forming 'the bottom and platform of the containerwhich means also act as bracing members for holding the container in rigid set-up condition. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a display container of the character described and for the purposes aforesaid, which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and practical in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be pointed out hereinafter and will in part be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

. With the above and other objects in view, the

* present invention consists of the novel features of construction hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown the preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing, forming an integral part of this specification,

Fig. l is a perspective View, partly broken away, showing the container in a set-up condition;

Fig. 2 represents a blank from which the bracing members which also form the bottom of the container, are made;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing the container in collapsed position;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the container;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the container; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing a modified form of the container, constructed in accordance with the principle of the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, In rep- 5 resents the body member of the container which is preferably formed from a single sheet of cardboard or similar flexible material, the longitudinal edges of which are preferably joined in overlapping relation and secured by means 10 of staples H or other suitable means, so as to provide a tubular member. The opposite sides of the body member ID are preferably scored as indicated at 12 so that the container may be folded flat as illustrated" in Fig. 3. The upper end of the body member may be reenforced by providing a marginal cardboard strip 13, which is preferably glued or otherwise secured to the inner face of the body member, and is slit at the score lines IE to facilitate the folding of the container.

Arranged longitudinally within the body member H], in opposed relation, are a pair of bracing members l4 and I5 whose sides are in alignment withthe score lines l2. The bracing members [4 and I 5 are preferably made of stiff cardboard sheet material and are formed from blanks cut out and scored as shown in Fig. 2. Each of the bracing members I4, and I5 comprises a panel iii of a predetermined length and of a width corresponding substantially to the diameter of the tubular body member. Integral with each panel l6 and extending from the upper end there of is a crescent-shaped wing ll which is adapted to fold on the score line l8. In like manner, extending from the lower end of each panel i6 is another crescent-shaped wing l9 which is adapted to fold on the score line 20. The wings I! and I9 are hinged to each panel [6 in such manner that both wings will project laterally to one side of the panel. Each of the wing portions comprises a facial area corresponding substantially to one-half of the horizontal cross-sectional area of the tubular body member ID, the object of which will be apparent as this description proceeds. Extending, transversely from the periphery of the wing I1 is an elongated strip 2| which is hinged thereto so as to fold downwardly on the score line 22. In like manner, a similar strip 23 is hinged to the wing l9 and is adapted to fold downwardly on the score line 24. The bracing members [4 and I5 are attached to the body member l 0 by means of the said strips 2| and 23 which are glued or otherwise secured to the inner face of the body member in spaced parallel relation, the strips 23 being attached near the lower end of the body member and the strips 2| being attached intermediate of the two ends.

Each of the upper wings I! is provided with a hand hole 25, the object of which will be described hereinafter. Each of the lower Wings 19 is preferably provided with a U-shaped slit 2% whereby a pair of legs 21 are formed for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.

When not in use the container is in collapsed position as shown in Fig. 3, with the body member ID folded fiat as permitted by the score lines l2, and the bracing members I l and i5 folded fiat as permitted by the score lines l8 and 26 so as to lie within the body member. The container in this condition occupies a minimum amount of space and is thus rendered suitable for storage and shipping.

When it is desired to set up the container for use, the body member NJ is first slightly spread by inserting the hands within the container at the upper end thereof. The hands are then pressed downwardly on the upper wings I! of the bracing members until said wings are in a hori- "zontal plane. The body member ID will thus be forced into a tubular shape, and the upper wings I? will form a platform conforming to the shape of the body member. Simultaneously the lower wings I9 will form a bottom, likewise conforming to the shape of the body member. By this same operation the panels iii of the two bracing members l4 and i5 are brought back to back in frictional abutment and the peripheral edges of the wings are brought into frictonal engagement with the wall of the body member. The container is thereby securely held in shape against accidental folding and is rendered very rigid. The strips 2| and 23 provide shoulders upon which the upper wings I1 and the lower wings i9 respectively are adapted to rest when the container is in set-up condition, and thus provide rigid support for the platform to withstand the weight of the articles of merchandise that may be placed thereon for display. The bracing members are further supported and insured against collapse from the weight of the articles displayed by means of the legs 21 which are adapted to rest upon the floor for the container.

When it is desired to collapse the container the upper wings I! are gripped'at the hand holes 25 and are pulled upwardly. The bracing members are thus brought out of frictional engagement with the body member ID and the container is readily folded into its original flat condition.

In the modified embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 6, the principle of operation is the same as in the embodiment hereinabove described, and the construction varies only as to form. In the modified form I employ a rectangular shaped body member 28 which is formed of a single sheet of cardboard. the longitudinal edges of which are united in overlapping relation. and secured by means of staples 29. The walls of the body member 28 are hingedly connected so that the body member may be collapsed. A pair of bracing members 30 are arranged longitudinally within the body member 28, in opposed relation, as in the embodiment described hereinabove. These bracing members 30 are similar in construction to those in the first embodiment except that the wing portions 3| and 32 are rectangular in shape, and are attached to oppositely disposed walls of the body member 28, by means of respective hinge leaves 33 and 34. This embodiment of my improved display container is likewise adapted to be collapsed and set up in the manner described hereinabove.

The container may be provided with an extension 35, as shown in Fig. 6, to permit advertising matter to be printed thereon. Advertising matter may also be printed on the outside of the container, if desired.

While I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to what is shown in the drawing and described in this specification, for it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that various changes may be made in the details of construction which will fall within the scope of this invention as outlined in the appended claims.

Having thus described and illustrated my present invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible display container comprising a body member provided with oppositely disposed longitudinally extending score lines whereby said body member is adapted for folding, and a pair of channel shaped bracing members arranged back to back in frictional abutment within the body member, each of said bracing members comprising a vertical panel disposed in alignment with said score lines of the body member and a pair of wings hinged to the panel and hingedly secured to vertically spaced portions of the body member whereby the bracing members are adapted for folding within the body member.

2. A collapsible display container comprising a tubular body member provided with oppositely disposed longitudinally extending score lines whereby said body member is adapted for folding, and a pair of channel shaped bracing members arranged back to back in frictional abutment within the body member, each of said bracing members comprising a vertical panel disposed in alignment with said score lines of the body member and a pair of cresent shaped wings hinged to the panel and hingedly secured to vertically spaced portions of the body member whereby the bracing members are adapted for folding within the body member.

3. A collapsible display container comprising a rectangular shaped body member having hingedly connected walls whereby said body member is adapted for folding, and a pair of channel shaped bracing members arranged back to back in frictional abutment within the body member, each of said bracing members comprising a vertical panel disposed in a plane parallel with opposite walls of the body member and a pair of rectangular shaped wings hinged to the panel and hingedly secured to vertically spaced portions of the body member, whereby the bracing members are adapted for folding within the body member.

4. A collapsible display container comprising a body member provided with oppositely disposed longitudinally extending score lines whereby said body member is adapted for folding, and a pair of channel shaped bracing members arranged back to back in frictional abutment Within the body member, each of said bracing members comprising a vertical panel disposed in alignment with said score lines of the body member and a pair of wings hingedly connected to the upper and lower edges respectively of the panel and hingedly secured to vertically spaced portions of the body member, whereby the bracing members are adapted for folding within the body member, the upper wings of the two bracing members together forming a platform and the lower Wings of the two bracing members together forming a bottom for the container, said platform and bottom conforming to the configuration of the body member.

5. A collapsible display container comprising a tubular body member provided with oppositely disposed longitudinally extending score lines whereby said body member is adapted for folding, and a pair of channel shaped bracing members arranged back to back in frictional abutment within the body member, each of said bracing members comprising a vertical panel disposed in alignment with said score lines of the body member and a pair of crescent shaped wings hingedly connected to the upper and lower edges respec tively of the panel and hingedly secured to vertically spaced portions of the body member, whereby the bracing members are adapted for folding within the body member, the upper wings of the two bracing members together forming a platform and the lower wings of the two bracing members together forming a bottom for the container, said platform and bottom conforming to the configuration of the body member.

6. A collapsible display container comprising a rectangular shaped body member having hingedly connected walls whereby said body member is adapted for folding, and a pair of channel shaped bracing members arranged back to back in frictional abutment within the body member, each of said bracing members comprising a vertical panel disposed in a plane parallel with opposite walls of the body member and a pair of rectangular shaped wings hingedly connected to the upper and lower edges respectively of the panel and hingedly secured to vertically spaced portions of the body member, whereby said bracing members are adapted for folding within the body member, the upper wings of the two bracing members together forming a platform and, the lower wings to the two bracing members together forming a bottom for the container, said platform and bottom conforming to the configuration of the body member.

CHARLES J. BACON. 

